Windows lifecycle fact sheet

Last updated: May 2020

Every Windows product has a lifecycle. The lifecycle begins when a product is released and ends when it's no longer supported. Knowing key dates in this lifecycle helps you make informed decisions about when to update, upgrade or make other changes to your software.

Feature updates will be released twice a year for Windows 10 via the Semi-Annual Channel, targeting March and September annually. Updates are cumulative, with each update built upon those that preceded it; you should always install the latest feature update (version), before your current version reaches end of service, to remain supported by Microsoft thru monthly quality updates.

As of September 6, 2018, we have evolved our servicing timeline for customers who need more time to test and deploy Windows 10 Enterprise and Education feature updates. To that end, feature updates will be serviced with monthly quality updates as follows:

Serviced for 18 months from release date, however based on your setting, the latest feature update may be automatically installed on your device upon availability.

Serviced for 18 months from release date, however based on your setting, the latest feature update may be automatically installed on your device upon availability.

* Feature updates will be released twice annually with a target of March and September.

Some editions1 can defer semi-annual feature updates at Settings >Windows Update >Advanced options or via a policy that an organization's management system may provide to the device. On devices that haven't been configured for deferral, you'll need to install the latest feature update to help keep your device secure and have it remain supported by Microsoft. New versions may be automatically installed prior to the end-of-service date of the current version on your device.

1 Home edition does not support the deferral of feature updates and will therefore typically receive a new version of Windows 10 prior to the end-of-service date shown.

By Windows 10 version, below are the availability and end of service dates segmented by edition.

Windows 10 version history

Date of availability

End of service for Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editions

End of service for Enterprise and Education editions

Windows 10, version 2004

May 27, 2020

December 14, 2021

December 14, 2021

Windows 10, version 1909

November 12, 2019

May 11, 2021

May 10, 2022**

Windows 10, version 1903

May 21, 2019

December 8, 2020

December 8, 2020

Windows 10, version 1809

November 13, 2018

November 10, 2020***

May 11, 2021**

Windows 10, version 1803

April 30, 2018

November 12, 2019

November 10, 2020

Windows 10, version 1709

October 17, 2017

April 9, 2019

October 13, 2020***

Windows 10, version 1703

April 5, 2017*

October 9, 2018

October 8, 2019

Windows 10, version 1607

August 2, 2016

April 10, 2018

April 9, 2019

Windows 10, version 1511

November 10, 2015

October 10, 2017

October 10, 2017

Windows 10, released July 2015 (version 1507)

July 29, 2015

May 9, 2017

May 9, 2017

* Windows 10, version 1703 for Enterprise, Education, and IOT Enterprise editions were released on April 11, 2017.** Serviced for 30 months from release date per policy updated at September 6, 2018.*** Delay to scheduled end of support and servicing dates due to public health situation. For more details visit here.

Note: Not all features in an update will work on all devices. A device may not be able to receive updates if the device hardware is incompatible, lacks current drivers, lacks sufficient storage space, or is otherwise outside the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) support period. For more information on compatibility, review the Windows 10 System Requirements as well as the Windows Processor Requirements.

Note: Not all features in an update will work on all devices. A device may not be able to receive updates if the device hardware is incompatible, lacks current drivers, lacks sufficient storage space, or is otherwise outside the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) support period. For more information on compatibility, review the Windows 10 System Requirements as well as the Windows Processor Requirements.

* Support for Windows 7 RTM without service packs ended on April 9, 2013.

Prior versions of Windows, including Windows 8.1, have limited support when running on new processors and chipsets from manufacturers like Intel, AMD, NVidia, and Qualcomm. For more information, see Microsoft Lifecycle Policy. A device may not be able to run prior versions of Windows if the device hardware is incompatible, lacks current drivers, or is otherwise outside the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) support period.

End of sales

End of sales refers to the date when a particular version of Windows is no longer shipped to retailers or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Examples of OEMS are Dell and Toshiba, PC manufacturers who often preinstall Windows software.

* When the retail software product reaches its end-of-sales date, it can still be purchased through an OEM (the company that made your PC) until it reaches the end-of-sales date for PCs with Windows preinstalled.

Windows downgrade rights

To use prior versions of Windows software on PCs installed with newer versions, it is possible for consumers to obtain a license for downgrade rights. These downgrade rights will vary depending on whether the software was acquired via Volume Licensing, OEM, or FPP. To learn more about these rights, review the downgrade rights licensing brief. Prior versions of Windows, including Windows 8.1, have limited support when running on new processors and chipsets from manufacturers like Intel, AMD, NVidia, and Qualcomm. For more information, please see Microsoft Lifecycle Policy. A device may not be able to run prior versions of Windows if the device hardware is incompatible, lacks current drivers, or is otherwise outside of the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) support period.

* Released twice annually with a target of March and September.

See the following table for service pack support information. Microsoft discontinued the use of Service Packs with Windows Server 2008 R2. There are no service packs planned for Windows Server 2012 and later.